Home Google calls reports of US reclassification as ‘sensitive’ country ‘misleading’

Google calls reports of US reclassification as ‘sensitive’ country ‘misleading’

Google has denied reclassifying the US as a ‘sensitive’ country after reports suggested the tech giant made the move following President Donald Trump’s “Gulf of America” comments.

Responding to media reports that Google’s maps division had given the designation it reserves for states with strict governments and border disputes, the company took to X to say that this was “misleading.”

It added: “‘Sensitive’ is simply used in our internal systems for countries that see different official names in Maps (like a different name for a body of water) — that’s all there is to it. This is common & includes dozens of countries. Adding the U.S. & Mexico to that list means nothing more than that.”

The US got a new classification after President Trump announced plans to change names on official maps and federal communications. That includes renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America” and changing Mount Denali back to Mount McKinley.

According to internal documents seen by CNBC, Google reportedly decided to stop labeling the US as a “non-sensitive” country on Monday (Jan. 27). This came after the company announced it would rename the body of water between the Yucatán and Florida peninsulas as the “Gulf of America” in Google Maps, once the Trump administration updates its official government sources.

Google’s ‘sensitive’ countries designation

Google’s list of “sensitive” countries is said to include China, Russia, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq, among others. CNBC reports that the label is also applied to countries with “unique geometry or unique labeling.”

Now, the US and Mexico have been added to that list.

A Google spokesperson told CNBC that the “sensitive” classification is just a technical setting, meaning some labels in those countries might be handled differently than in others.

Silicon Valley has attempted to mend ties with the 47th president, with tech executives, including Google CEO Sundar Pichai, seen standing behind him during his inauguration.

ReadWrite has reached out to Google for comment.

Featured image: Canva

About ReadWrite’s Editorial Process

The ReadWrite Editorial policy involves closely monitoring the tech, gambling and blockchain industries for major developments, new product and brand launches, AI breakthroughs, game releases and other newsworthy events. Editors assign relevant stories to in-house staff writers with expertise in each particular topic area. Before publication, articles go through a rigorous round of editing for accuracy, clarity, and to ensure adherence to ReadWrite's style guidelines.

Suswati Basu
Tech journalist

Suswati Basu is a multilingual, award-winning editor and the founder of the intersectional literature channel, How To Be Books. She was shortlisted for the Guardian Mary Stott Prize and longlisted for the Guardian International Development Journalism Award. With 18 years of experience in the media industry, Suswati has held significant roles such as head of audience and deputy editor for NationalWorld news, digital editor for Channel 4 News and ITV News. She has also contributed to the Guardian and received training at the BBC As an audience, trends, and SEO specialist, she has participated in panel events alongside Google. Her…

Get the biggest tech headlines of the day delivered to your inbox

    By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Unsubscribe anytime.

    Tech News

    Explore the latest in tech with our Tech News. We cut through the noise for concise, relevant updates, keeping you informed about the rapidly evolving tech landscape with curated content that separates signal from noise.

    In-Depth Tech Stories

    Explore tech impact in In-Depth Stories. Narrative data journalism offers comprehensive analyses, revealing stories behind data. Understand industry trends for a deeper perspective on tech's intricate relationships with society.

    Expert Reviews

    Empower decisions with Expert Reviews, merging industry expertise and insightful analysis. Delve into tech intricacies, get the best deals, and stay ahead with our trustworthy guide to navigating the ever-changing tech market.